Motorized home storage system

ABSTRACT

A motorized home storage system can be mounted to any type of ceiling for storing items off the ground. The motorized home storage system is designed to make use of unused ceiling space, allowing homeowners to store their items overhead and out of the way and create additional storage in homes. The system is designed for large and heavy items that can be easily stored due to the two tube motors. Tube motors can allow a storage platform to be lowered for easy access, loading, and unloading. Additionally, tube motors can allow the storage platform to be raised to the ceiling in order to be completely out of the way and off the ground. The system can include legs attached to the platform which can unsnap to turn the platform into a table.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. pat.app. Ser. No. 14/231,389 to Klooth, filed. on Mar. 31, 2014 and entitled“Motorized Home Storage System,” which is fully incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to motorized home storage products, andspecifically to overhead storage products.

Description of the Related Art

Storage areas of a building typically include items stacked in floorspace. Recently, however, storage structures supported from a ceilinghave increased storage capacity by permitting items to be placed wellabove the floor, near the ceiling area of a room. These productssometimes require walking up or down a ladder to retrieve products,which can be dangerous. Further, many retrievable storage platformoptions are very time-consuming to build and/or install, and can be veryexpensive. Finally, these designs can be visually unappealing and can beunsafe due to countless moving parts and cables, with various partssticking out of the main body of the product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of an overhead storage device according to the presentinvention can include left and right tube motors and a platform. A leftcable can connect the left tube motor to the platform while a rightcable can connect the right tube motor to the platform.

Another embodiment of an overhead storage device according to thepresent invention can include a cable and a platform, with a suspensionbelow the platform.

One device according to the present invention can include first andsecond motors, and an electrical circuit for controlling the motors thatis configured to stop one of the motors upon the stoppage of the otherof the motors.

These and other aspects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription and the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way ofexample the features of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage system according to oneembodiment the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom elevation view of a storage system according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom elevation view of a storage system according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a storage system according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a storage system according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a detailed side elevation view of a portion of a storagesystem according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a detailed front elevation view of the portion of a storagesystem shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a detailed side elevation view of a portion of a storagesystem according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a detailed side elevation view of the portion of a storagesystem shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a detailed side elevation view of a portion of a storagesystem according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a detailed side elevation view of the portion of a storagesystem shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of a storage system according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 a front elevation view of the storage system shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a schematic circuit diagram of an electrical system accordingto one embodiment of the present invention in a first state.

FIG. 15 is a schematic circuit diagram of the electrical system of FIG.14 in a second state.

FIG. 16 is a schematic circuit diagram of the electrical system of FIG.14 in a second state.

FIG. 17 is a schematic circuit diagram of the electrical system of FIG.14 in a second state.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a storage system according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a manner in which a storage systemaccording to the present invention can be attached to a ceiling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to different embodiments of motorizedoverhead storage systems. Some embodiments of systems according to thepresent invention can include one or more tube motors. One embodiment,for example, includes two tube motors, each with a corresponding cablethat can connect the tube motor to a storage platform in one or moreplaces. The tube motors can raise and lower the platform. The cables canwrap or coil around the tube motors such that the cables always wrap ina single direction, which helps to prevent platform unevenness and canprevent cable overlapping and/or rubbing, which can cause deteriorationor breakage. Systems according to the present invention can includecircuitry that can be configured to cause two or more motors to stopnear simultaneously such that the platform does not become uneven.Systems according to the present invention can also include one or moresuspension systems, such as below the platform.

It is understood that when an element is referred to as being “on”another element, it can be directly on the other element or interveningelements may also be present. Furthermore, relative terms such as“inner”, “outer”, “upper”, “above”, “lower”, “beneath”, “below” “left”,“right”, and similar terms, may be used herein to describe arelationship of one element to another. It is understood that theseterms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device inaddition to the orientation depicted in the figures.

Although the ordinal terms first, second, etc., may be used herein todescribe various elements, components, regions and/or sections, theseelements, components, regions, and/or sections should not be limited bythese terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element,component, region, or section from another. Thus, unless expresslystated otherwise, a first element, component, region, or sectiondiscussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, orsection without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference toillustrations that are schematic in nature. As such, the actualthickness of elements can be different, and variations from the shapesof the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturingtechniques and/or tolerances are expected. Thus, the elementsillustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes arenot intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region of a device andare not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a motorized home storage system 2 according to oneembodiment of the present invention. The system 2 can be mounted to anytype of ceiling and can be used for storing items off the ground. Thesystem 2 is designed to make use of unused ceiling space, allowinghomeowners and/or business owners to store items overhead and out of theway, thus creating additional space on the floor. Some embodiments canaccommodate large and heavy items.

The system two can include left and right montage rails 23,24 that canbe mounted to a ceiling, such as with screws or other connection devicesknown in the art. The system can also include one or more tube motors;in the embodiment shown, the system 2 includes two tube motors 27,28,which can be attached to the montage rails 23,24, such as by motorbrackets 40,41,42,43. The system can include two or more cable-typedevices; in the embodiment shown, the system 2 includes two cables25,26, which can be steel, for example. While the term “cable” is usedherein, it is understood that in different embodiments many differentrope-type structures can be used. The cables 25,26 can be designed tocoil around the tube motors 27,28, as will be described in detail below.The system 2 can include a storage platform, which can comprise a shelfframe 10, one or more shelf beams 12,13,14, and a platform 11. Cablebenders 15,16,17,18 can be included to shape the cables 25,26appropriately, and cable clips 19,20,21,22 can be included to furthersecure the cables 25,26. The cable clips 19,20,21,22 can allow for easyinstallation and adjustment of the evenness of the platform. Once thecable clips 19,20,21,22 are secured the cable will not slide, ensuringthat the platform hangs horizontally.

The use of one or more tube motors can have distinct advantages overprior art systems not comprising tube motors. For example, systemsaccording to the present invention do not necessarily have to includedrive shafts, pulleys, pulley mounts, etc. As another example of savingparts, connectors to install a motor to a ceiling joist or other part ofthe product are unnecessary. A single tube can replace two pulleys.Further, the use of tube motors is space-efficient, since othercomponents may not be present outside the tubes such as a motor,reducing the ceiling storage space and/or not allowing side-by-sideinstallation. Instead, a motor can be placed inside a tube that may havebeen hollow in the first place. Using two tubes, each with acorresponding cable, can also eliminate the need for a cable crossingfrom one tube to another (or from one tube through a set of pulleys);this crossing cable can eliminate ceiling storage space in prior artsystems. Further, with a system requiring crossing cables, any pulley ortube will often be on the inside of the platform perimeter, reducing thestorage space.

Another advantage of tube motors is that these motors can have acircumference that allows for the use of strong cables. In someembodiments of the present invention, a tube motor has about 1.5″ ormore of diameter for every 1/16″ of cable diameter, although otherembodiments are possible. Some exemplary embodiments include a tubemotor with a 4.5″ diameter used with a 3/16″ rope and a 3″ tube motorused with a ⅛″ rope, although many different embodiments are possible. Asmall pulley or a rod having a small circumference may not work withstrong cables, as the cable would bend too much around the smallcircumference and cause excessive strain or breakage. The tube motorscan thus function both as the power device and as a wrapping device forstrong cables. Strong cables may be necessary for lifting heavier loads.Many different types of cables, ropes, and/or other similar devices canbe used in embodiments of the present invention, some of which aredescribed in the McMaster-Carr@ Document 8912TAC Wire Rope Guidelines,©2007, which is fully incorporated by reference herein. One example isthe 7×19 ⅛″ rope or 3/16″ rope; many different embodiments are possible.

Another advantage is that the use of tube motors can allow the distancethe platform is to be lowered to be preset, which can lower the amountof tolerance needed from other elements such as springs. For example,upon the platform reaching the ground, the tube motor will stop windingcable automatically due to the presence of a preset cable length.

The use of two tube motors, as opposed to a single tube motor, isapproximately the same cost yet typically provides more power. Further,the use of one tube motor can result in a less stable overall structure.Finally, the use of two tube motors allows for items to be raised allthe way to the ceiling without the tube motors getting in the way; ifonly a single tube motor is used, a platform with stored items on it mayonly reach the bottom of the motor as opposed to the ceiling itself. Twotube motors, however, allows for the tubes to be placed outside theperimeter of the storage area, maximizing the storage capacity. Anotheradvantage of the two tube motors is that suspending the platform fromtwo axes (the tube motors 27,28) allows for a much more stable productwhich can be loaded mid-air, as opposed to a platform suspended form asingle axis which may swing more than desired. With two axes theplatform can be unevenly loaded yet remain horizontal, whereas if aplatform suspended from a single axis is unevenly loaded the platformmay tilt. Suspending a platform from one axis usually requires one cableon each axis end which splits into two cables, which are slanted toreach the platform's corners. If a platform that is longer than the axisis desired (e.g., the platform 11 is longer than the tube motors 27,28),then the slanted cables will occupy potential storage space. To preventthis, the axial motor would need to be as long as the platform itself,which could require a much longer, heavier, and more expensive motor.Finally, two tube motors can also be lighter than regular motors withthe same power, which among other things can make the installationeasier.

The montage rails 23,24 can have a C-shaped cross-section with the openend on the bottom, for example. Further, the open end of the C-shape canbe only partially open, or completely open. The montage rails 23,24 canbe mounted to any type of ceiling (e.g. wood, concrete, drywall, etc.)in any number of manners known in the art. Tube motors 27,28 can beconnected to the rails 23,24 by brackets 40,41,42,43, which can beL-shaped. One of the brackets 40,41,42,43 can be on each side of thetube motors 27,28.

Cables 25,26 can be connected to the tube motors 27,28 by holders29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36, although other connectors are possible. Theholders can be L-shaped, or many other shapes. The holders can be on thetop, bottom, or both of the tube motors 27,28 (in the embodiment shown,the holders are on both top and. bottom). While the embodiment shownuses eight holders, fewer or more holders are possible, such as fourholders. Each holder can include, for example, three holes, such as twoholes through which a cable can pass and one hole for connection to ameans for attaching the holder to the tube motor.

The cables 25,26 can coil around the tube motors 27,28 at a total offour different places (two per cable). The cables 25,26 can coil suchthat each coiling area coils in the same direction, such as from left toright or right to left. For example, in FIG. 1 the tube motors 27,28turn in the direction of the arrows when unwinding, and turn in theopposite direction when winding. In this and some other embodiments, thetube motors can turn opposite one another (e.g. when one turnsclockwise, the other turns clockwise), although other embodiments wherethe tubes turn in the same direction are possible. In the FIG. 1embodiment, the cables 25,26 will coil toward the montage rail 24, andwill retreat toward the montage rail 23 when uncoiling. Having thecables coil in the same direction can ensure that the cables 25,26remain vertical, as opposed to slanting outward or slanting inwardoff-vertical. The top of the cables 25,26 can remain the same distancefrom one another such that the cables are always parallel. A magnifiedview of this concept is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In FIG. 6, as theplatform is moved upward, the cables 27,28 coil from left to right,whereas as the platform is moved downward, the cables 27,28 uncoil fromright to left. This prevents the cable from overlapping itself, whichmay cause platform unevenness. It further prevents or reducescable-on-cable rubbing, which can weaken the cable and/or causebreakage. In other embodiments, the wraps can coil toward the center(and thus toward one another) or toward the outside (and thus away fromone another), which may result in the cables slanting inward or outward,respectively.

Cable benders can be used, and can enable the use of fewer cables. Forexample, four cable benders 15,16,17,18 can be attached to the shelfframe 10, for example, and the cables 25,26 can be shaped by the bendersso as to be attached to the tube motors 27,28 at a total of fourdifferent points. The four points can approximate the corners of thesystem 2, or can be inward of the corners as shown. In one embodimentthe inside radius of the benders 15,16,17,18 is about two inches, whichcan provide for smooth bending of the cables 25,26 so as to lower thechance of breakage. By including two benders 15,16,17,18 on each side ofthe system 2, the cables 25,26 can be prevented from moving and/orsliding, other than the upward/downward movement due to coiling. Theclips 19,20,21,22 can also enable the frame 10 and platform 11 to remainhorizontal since they can prevent the cables from coiling more on oneside of a tube motor than the other.

The tube motors 27,28 can be placed in various positions in differentembodiments of the present invention. For example, in FIG. 2 the tubemotors 27,28 are to the outside of the perimeter of the frame 10,whereas in FIG. 3 the tube motors 27,28 are inside the perimeter of theframe 10. The FIG. 2 embodiment may allow the frame 10 to be raisedcloser to the ceiling and/or may allow items to be stored higher on theplatform, while the FIG. 3 embodiment may allow for a smaller overallfootprint. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the tube motors 27,28 canbe attached to the ceiling. However, other embodiments are possible,such as that shown in FIG. 5, where the tube motors 27,28 can beattached to the frame 10 or storage platform 11 for example, such asbelow the storage platform 11, although other embodiments are possible.This can allow the frame platform 11 to be raised closer to the ceiling.FIGS. 12 and 13 show detailed views of embodiments similar to FIGS. 4and 5, respectively.

Systems according to the present invention can include one or moresuspensions, such as that seen in FIGS. 8 and 9. A suspension 59 can beattached, for example, to each of the cable benders such as the bender15. The suspension 59 can include a leg 50, spring 51, and/or bumper 54.The bumper 54 can prevent scratching the ground. When the suspension 59touches the ground, the spring 51 can begin to compress itself to keepthe cables 25,26 in tension. This can make up for incorrect cablelengths. If a cable is too long, it may not be in tension andoverlapping of the coiling may be caused without the suspension. If thecable were too short, the frame 10 may be hanging in the air; thesuspension 59 can make up for this height difference. A pin 58 can bemovable within a channel 57, and can move as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,such as moving down within the channel with the spring releases (FIG. 8)or up within the channel as the spring compresses (FIG. 9).

Springs according to the present invention can be separate from thecables, such as by being below the platform as opposed to between thecables and the platform as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,575,098 toHartley. Springs that are directly installed on a cable must be muchmore powerful, and thus are more expensive and larger. The spring 51shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, however, receives much less force, allowing fora cheaper spring. Further, springs attached directly to cables may actdifferently based on the load, such as not stretching enough with lowerloads and stretching too much with higher loads. These springs may alsocause sudden spring action or bouncing upon beginning or endingmovement. Further, if one side of a device with the springs disclosed byHartley is loaded more than another, the platform may become tilted; byincluding spring suspensions below the platform, the platform can alwaysremain parallel to the ground and/or in its designed position.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show another method of prevention loss of tension and/orswinging. A spring 51 can be attached to the side of a cable bender suchthat the cable passes through the spring, thus allowing a tolerance suchthat the platform will not swing and the cables will not lose tension.

FIGS. 18 and 19 show a manner in which a system according to the presentinvention can be attached to a ceiling. Screws can be placed through amontage rail, through a ceiling, and into one or more joists. Further,screws can also attach the motor controller to the ceiling, although themotor controller can be located in a number of different areas.

In systems according to the present invention using two motors such asthe tube motors 27,28, it is important that the motors begin and ceaseoperation simultaneously so that the platform 11 does not become tilted.Interruptions that can potentially cause tilting include overheating,power or cable disconnection, and many other types of interruption.FIGS. 14-17 show circuit diagrams of an electrical system designed toenable simultaneous operation/non-operation of the tube motors 27,28.

Systems according to the present invention can also include a device forprohibiting the tube motors 27,28 from further movement once theplatform reaches a maximum or minimum height. For example, a switch 53can stop motor operation once this maximum or minimum height is reached,preventing a loss in tension of and/or overlapping of the cables 25,26.When the motors 27,28 reach an endpoint, one of the switches 62,63 canopen For example, when the switch 60 is closed the motor can turn, andwhen the motor reaches an endpoint (such as the frame 10 or suspension59 reaching the floor), the switch 62 can open and the motor turn off,as shown in FIG. 14.

Systems according to the present invention can run at many differentvoltages. The embodiment shown in FIG. 14 runs at 120V. The 120V shownindicates that the temperature switch 66 is closed and there is nooverheating of the motors. If one of the motors overheats, thetemperature switch 66 can open such that the voltage is reduced to zerobecause the connection to neutral (N) is interrupted, halting operation.

FIG. 15 shows a state wherein the switch 61 is closed and the motorturning, and the motor reaches an endpoint such that the switch 63 opensand the motor is turned off. The voltage remains 120V since thetemperature switch 66 has not been opened.

In one embodiment, the switches 62,63 are always closed duringoperation, as shown in FIG. 16. One of the switches 60,61 is closed andthe other open, depending upon whether the platform is being raised orlowered. When an endpoint is reached, one of the switches 62,63 willopen to cease operation of the motors.

FIG. 17 shows a state in which one or more of the motors has overheated.The temperature switch 66 has opened, thus cutting voltage 0 and ceasingmotor operation.

One advantage of operating the motors in this manner is thecost-effectiveness and ease of implementation. The voltage measurementcan also control the temperature of the motors even when they are notrunning when they reached their endpoint, which a current measurementcannot. With this method an overheating, cable disconnection, powerloss, etc. can be discovered and the motor turned off.

The electronics for this apparatus' motors can be in the montage rail 23or 24 or attached to any other part of the apparatus to be less visibleor make the design more visually pleasing. The electronics could also bestored, for example, in the ceiling.

Systems according to the present invention can have legs attached to theplatform or shelf frame. These legs could be foldable or telescopic, forexample. These legs can enable the platform 11 to be used as a table.Cables attached to the platform could be detached and/or unsnapped andcoiled so as to be out of the way. The platform surface can be used fordifferent hobbies, crafting, play, projects, etc., and can be“retrievable” so that when a user wishes to return to the project, theplatform can be lowered and the user can pick up where he or she leftoff. The platform 11 can be a wire deck or another surface. The platform11 could have drawers or other compartments to make it possible to storeitems in it and have a retrievable work or hobby-bench. Certainembodiments of the invention can be raised or lowered using a wirelessremote; the system can include a receiver for receiving a signal tooperate the motors from the remote.

It is understood that embodiments presented. herein are meant to beexemplary. Embodiments of the present invention can comprise anycombination of compatible features shown in the various figures, andthese embodiments should not be limited to those expressly illustratedand discussed.

Although the present invention has been described in detail withreference to certain preferred configurations thereof, other versionsare possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the invention shouldnot be limited to the versions described above.

We claim:
 1. An overhead storage device, comprising: left and right tubemotors; a platform; a left cable connecting said left tube motor to saidplatform; and a right cable connecting said right tube motor to saidplatform.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said left cable is attachedto said left tube motor at first and second attachment points and saidright cable is attached to said right tube motor and third and fourthattachment points.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein said left cable isconfigured to coil around said left tube motor in a first direction fromeach of said first and second attachment points.
 4. The device of claim3, wherein said right cable is configured to coil around said right tubemotor in said first direction from each of said third and fourthattachment points.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein said left cable isattached to said platform at first and second cable benders and saidright cable is attached to said platform at third and fourth cablebenders.
 6. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or moresuspensions.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein said suspension is belowsaid platform.
 8. The device of claim 6, wherein said suspensioncomprises a spring.
 9. The device of claim 6, wherein a cable bendercomprises at least one of said suspensions.
 10. The device of claim 1,wherein said left tube motor is configured to rotate in a directionopposite said right tube motor.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein saidtube motors are outside a perimeter of said platform.
 12. The device ofclaim 1, wherein said tube motors are inside a perimeter of saidplatform.
 13. The device of claim 1, wherein said tube motors areattached to a ceiling.
 14. An overhead storage device, comprising: atleast one cable; a platform attached to said at least one cable; and asuspension below said platform.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein saidsuspension comprises a spring.
 16. The device of claim 14, wherein saidsuspension comprises a pin movable within a channel.
 17. A device,comprising: first and second motors; and an electrical circuit forcontrolling said motors; wherein said electrical circuit is configuredto stop said second motor upon the stoppage of said first motor.
 18. Thedevice of claim 17, further comprising a platform; wherein saidelectrical circuit is configured to stop said first and second motorssimultaneously when said platform reaches a maximum or minimum height.19. The device of claim 17, wherein said electrical circuit comprises aswitch configured to interrupt a connection to neutral upon one of saidmotors overheating.
 20. The device of claim 17, further comprising aplatform; wherein said electrical circuit is configured to raise andlower said platform; and wherein said electrical circuit comprises an upswitch, a down switch, a maximum height switch; a minimum height switch,and a temperature switch.